RE: Ferrari California T Handling Speciale: Review

[AW111]

TooMany2cvs said:

What. Is. The. Point?

Somewhere to put yet another prancing pony badge?

It's almost as if Ferrari are scared no one will know what it is without a badge visible from every possible viewing angle.

[epom]

Just seeing it now, but that's beginning to look very like a baby 599. The rear 3/4 shot even has hints of the gto.

[Guvernator]

I think this revision looks brilliant, as the poster above said, almost has hints of 599 GTO about it now. The other thing I love about this car is that they seem to be about the only manufacturer who have made a turbo car charismatic and exciting. Buy limiting torque low down, letting it build to a crescendo further up the rev range and giving it an 8000rpm red line with the sound to match they've made turbo engines exciting again. Using modern tech to make the car feel a bit old skool, it's brilliant. I just wish other manufacturers of more mundane turbo cars would take note, THIS is how to make a turbo car exciting.

The one thing I am a bit disappointed to read is the lower quality interior etc. The article makes the point that this is the bottom rung in Ferrari ownership but it'still a £160k car so their really should be no excuses for the slightly low rent feel.

[Anubis]

I think from head on it looks like a Peugeot.

If it was in black or silver or any less shouty colour and you removed the prancing horse badges would it still appeal, especially when against some stunning rivals like a Vanquish. It's just a bit too ordinary, which a Ferrari should not be - it has to make you go 'wow' as it passes by.

[iltridente]

In the flesh these cars, including the original, have i think always looked great, way, way better than anything from germany, or Maserati - where i speak from experience.

The back seats do in fact do the job, the picture doesn't help in that the front seats are right back. I have had '4 up' in my 2013 handling speciale and use them all the time for my 27 month old boy.

These cars are a great balance between all out sports and gt and also hold their value rather well....

The 'real' Ferrari tag line is to my mind a bit stale now. For a start, have you seen the engine, the aerodynamics, the suspension, the daytona seats you hopefully specd.....

http://www.pistonheads.com/regulars/ph-carpool/fer...

[jamieduff1981]

TheJimi said:

mat205125 said:

TooMany2cvs said:

What. Is. The. Point?

Perfect for gym bag, crash helmet, Douglas Bader, baby seat, Chinese takeaway, pets.

Out of those suggestions, the baby seat is the only thing those "seats" are good for For everything else, you'd be better with a nice storage space instead.

There's no sodding way you'll get a baby seat in there. Not even a high-back booster seat. Modern child seats are huge. They only just fit in a Cerbera and they are virtually a saloon car in the back compared to virtually all other 2+2s (and being a petrolhead with young children - a sports car I can get my daughters in the back of is something I'm all over).

[toppstuff]

TooMany2cvs said:

What. Is. The. Point?

I am glad the car has these small seats. I can get my dogs in the back from time to time.

[iltridente]

You will 100pc get a baby seat in there. I do everyday. And the isofix works.

[TooMany2cvs]

toppstuff said:

TooMany2cvs said:

What. Is. The. Point?

I am glad the car has these small seats. I can get my dogs in the back from time to time.

You have a girl's dog, Sir.

[F1GTRUeno]

TooMany2cvs said:

What. Is. The. Point?

As told by a Jaguar dealer when test driving my dad's car.

Taxation rates on exports (or imports whichever in the US and such).

2 seat cars are higher than four seat ones hence you get these pointless additions to your 2 seat coupe/cabriolet.

I'm 6ft and I was stuffed into the back of an XK last week for a 40 minute journey and I can tell you it's not worth it in the slightest (still got neck and back pain) but that's a minor downside of having an XK to play with in the family I guess.